Zacharias, the True High Priest / Paul Thomas Smith

Excerpt from Birth of the Messiah by Paul Thomas Smith. 
(reading only)

The man who rightfully held the keys of the Levitical Priesthood was a humble and faithful priest named Zacharias. Joseph Smith taught, "The Levitical Priesthood is forever hereditary—fixed on the head of Aaron and his sons forever, and was in active operation down to Zacharias."⁴ Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, had not been blessed with children, and were "well stricken in years" (Luke 1:7, 18). The office of high priest was patriarchal; beginning with Aaron, it passed from worthy father to worthy sons, and thus Zacharias hoped for a son.⁵

To serve within the temple sanctuary was the highest honor bestowed upon a priest. Between 20,000 and 24,000 priests were eligible to serve,⁶ but that opportunity occurred only once in the lifetime of a man—if his name was drawn. Zacharias had not served within the sanctuary, and he was nearly 50 years of age—the mandatory age of retirement.⁷

But the day arrived when his name was drawn, and Zacharias had the rare experience of going into the temple sanctuary. Wearing the robes of the Levitical Priesthood, he completed his sacred tasks. As a worthy high priest, Zacharias could rightfully inquire of God's will and receive a reply, if needed, by the ministering of angels (see D&C 13; 84:19—26; 107:18—20). The Prophet Joseph Smith said that "Zacharias [pled] with the Lord in the temple that he might have seed so that the priesthood might be preserved."⁸ We are told that Gabriel, a heavenly messenger, appeared to him (see Luke 1:11—20). When Gabriel lived in mortality, he was the prophet Noah⁹ who presided over the baptism of the earth.¹⁰ Now Noah was about to reveal knowledge of the prophet who would help bring to fruition the law of Moses, or the old covenant.¹¹

"Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

". . . Many shall rejoice at his birth.

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord;

"And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

"And he shall make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:13—17).

Zacharias was astonished to learn that his future son was to be the very prophet who Isaiah said would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord (see Isa. 40:3). Zacharias asked, "Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years" (Luke 1:18). Gabriel answered, "Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words" (Luke 1:20).

His temple responsibilities completed, Zacharias returned to his village in the hills of Judea filled with wonder at the blessings and promises of the Lord. At home he somehow made known to Elisabeth the overwhelming news—that she was to be the mother of a prophet of God.